WALKING IN THE WAKE OF HEROES

September 11, 2001, a date that will forever live in the hearts and minds of many in our great nation. It was on that day that hundreds of brave men and women sacrificed their lives while saving others from the crumbling twin towers of the World Trade Center. To honor their memory and the memories of all who lost their lives that day, Northrop Grumman was contracted by the U.S. Navy to build what would become the USS New York (LPD-21). However, the amphibious transport dock would have more in common with New York than just its name. The ship was built with seven and a half tons of forged steel from the remains of the twin towers.

For those who worked on the construction of the ship, this was no ordinary project. In fact, a crane superintendent, Tony Quaglino, postponed his retirement just so that he could be a part of the construction effort. To further understand the weight of LPD-21, Quaglino and many other construction workers travelled to New York to visit the museum and memorials honoring the memory of that day.